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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brown urged to 'condemn' Israel | Brown urged to 'condemn' Israel |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown must "unambiguously condemn" Israel's actions in Gaza, Nick Clegg has said, the first senior UK politician to urge such action. | Gordon Brown must "unambiguously condemn" Israel's actions in Gaza, Nick Clegg has said, the first senior UK politician to urge such action. |
| The Lib Dem leader said Mr Brown must make clear that recent actions by both Israel and Hamas were unacceptable, calling his comments "mealy-mouthed". | The Lib Dem leader said Mr Brown must make clear that recent actions by both Israel and Hamas were unacceptable, calling his comments "mealy-mouthed". |
| He also called for an embargo on UK arms sales to Israel, a move backed by nearly 100 other MPs. | He also called for an embargo on UK arms sales to Israel, a move backed by nearly 100 other MPs. |
| Israel halted military operations in Gaza for three hours on Wednesday. | Israel halted military operations in Gaza for three hours on Wednesday. |
| The UK government insists it is working flat out to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. | The UK government insists it is working flat out to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. |
| 'Stronger words' | 'Stronger words' |
| But Mr Clegg said the UK's diplomatic efforts to end the violence had been insufficient. | But Mr Clegg said the UK's diplomatic efforts to end the violence had been insufficient. |
| "If we wanted to we could say much stronger things, louder and clearer to both sides to get them to pull back from the brink," he told BBC Radio 5Live. | "If we wanted to we could say much stronger things, louder and clearer to both sides to get them to pull back from the brink," he told BBC Radio 5Live. |
| It was a "nonsense" that the UK and other European countries had effectively "sub-contracted" Middle East policy to the US and were "waiting" for US President-Elect Barack Obama to resolve the crisis. | It was a "nonsense" that the UK and other European countries had effectively "sub-contracted" Middle East policy to the US and were "waiting" for US President-Elect Barack Obama to resolve the crisis. |
| Mr Clegg said Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli territory were "totally unacceptable". | Mr Clegg said Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli territory were "totally unacceptable". |
| But he said Israel's use of "overwhelming force" in response would not improve its desire for long-term security. | But he said Israel's use of "overwhelming force" in response would not improve its desire for long-term security. |
| "The immediate impact of this is to drive more Palestinians into the arms of Hamas, exactly what Israel does not want." | "The immediate impact of this is to drive more Palestinians into the arms of Hamas, exactly what Israel does not want." |
| Earlier, in an article in The Guardian, Mr Clegg said Gordon Brown "must condemn unambiguously Israel's tactics, just as he has rightly condemned Hamas' rocket attacks". | Earlier, in an article in The Guardian, Mr Clegg said Gordon Brown "must condemn unambiguously Israel's tactics, just as he has rightly condemned Hamas' rocket attacks". |
| Arms calls | Arms calls |
| The EU must suspend all arms exports to Israel, Mr Clegg wrote, while the UK must act unilaterally to do this if necessary. | The EU must suspend all arms exports to Israel, Mr Clegg wrote, while the UK must act unilaterally to do this if necessary. |
| It is not in the interests of Israel for this to go on for a long time William Hague | It is not in the interests of Israel for this to go on for a long time William Hague |
| He said the amount of arms sold by the UK to Israel had increased substantially in 2008 and there were serious questions about whether their use violated EU licensing rules. | He said the amount of arms sold by the UK to Israel had increased substantially in 2008 and there were serious questions about whether their use violated EU licensing rules. |
| Mr Clegg also reiterated his call for the EU to suspend talks on a new proposed co-operation agreement with Israel, a move the Foreign Office has described as "naive". | Mr Clegg also reiterated his call for the EU to suspend talks on a new proposed co-operation agreement with Israel, a move the Foreign Office has described as "naive". |
| The Conservatives said they would not "condemn" Israel's actions as "disproportionate" since it had been provoked by Hamas attacks. | The Conservatives said they would not "condemn" Israel's actions as "disproportionate" since it had been provoked by Hamas attacks. |
| "I don't use that language," said shadow foreign secretary William Hague. "You have to remember how this started. It started with the launching of about 300 rockets by Hamas into Israel." | "I don't use that language," said shadow foreign secretary William Hague. "You have to remember how this started. It started with the launching of about 300 rockets by Hamas into Israel." |
| But Mr Hague said Tuesday's bombing of a UN school building, which killed 30 people and injured 55, "damaged" Israel's cause and called on "both sides" to accept a ceasefire. | |
| "It is not in the interests of Israel for this to go on for a long time." | "It is not in the interests of Israel for this to go on for a long time." |
| Meanwhile 98 MPs have signed a statement calling for an "end to the slaughter in Gaza" and an arms embargo. | Meanwhile 98 MPs have signed a statement calling for an "end to the slaughter in Gaza" and an arms embargo. |
| Mr Brown described Tuesday's bombing of the UN compound as the "darkest moment" so far of the conflict. |